Serious Difficulty Application Form

People who live within 1.6km of a pharmacy are not normally eligible to receive their medicines from their doctor’s surgery. You may, however, apply to NHS England or the integrated care board in whose area you live and if you satisfy NHS England or the integrated care board that you “would have serious difficulty in obtaining any necessary drugs or appliances from pharmacy premises by reason of distance or inadequacy of means of communication” you may receive your medicines from your doctor’s surgery. You can fill out an application form here to apply for this service. The application form asks for information required by NHS England to process and consider your individual case. Once you have completed the form please return to us as your doctor will need to provide additional information on the form. We will then send it to NHS England for a decision to be made. You will be notified of the decision within 30 days of NHS England receiving your application. Please note there is no right of appeal against NHS England’s decision.

If you need further advice please contact england.southeastcommunitypharmacy@nhs.net